A long time ago, forty kurukhs from Kandahar, in the beautiful palace of Kalabis, there lived the great king Aslam Khan from the Baretsai tribe. Over the years, the mighty Aslam Khan grew old and was sad that he did not have a son, an heir to the throne.
But everything in this world is in God’s hands! One evening, an old, old ma-liang knocked on the gate of the palace and asked for alms.
- You are all liars and deceivers! – Aslam Khan’s beloved wife shouted angrily to Malang. - Go away, despicable one! Many of you promised to pray that Allah would send the king a son, but to no avail!
- Don't be angry, oh lady! Take my advice. Take my stick, go into the garden, pick ripe fruits from the apple tree and bring them to me.
The lady thought about it and decided to do as the elder ordered. She sent a maid into the garden, and she knocked sixty ripe apples from the tree.
The malyang read a spell over them and said to the maid:
“Let the lady eat one apple in half with the king, and the rest can be given to anyone.” Everyone who eats the apple will have a son.
The maid conveyed the words of the malang to her mistress. She obeyed the old man and ate the apple in half with her husband, and distributed the rest to the courtiers.
Nine months, nine days and nine hours passed, and cries of joy were heard in Aslam Khan's palace: sixty boys were born in an instant. And Aslam Khan had an heir - Fateh Khan.
And the vizier’s wife, who also ate the magic apple, gave birth to two children at once: a girl named Bibi Rabiyya, and a boy, Purdil Khan. They immediately decided that Bibi Rabiyya would be Fateh Khan’s wife when she grew up.
The king's concubine also gave birth to a son, who was named Karam Khan.
Happy Aslam Khan ordered his servants to take care of all newborn boys.
The years passed quickly, the boys grew up and turned into strong young men.
They all grew up together and loved each other like brothers.
One spring morning, when everything around was blooming, Fateh Khan, Karam Khan and Purdil Khan with their retinue left the gates of the palace. They went to the mountains, shot mountain partridges, chased hares and foxes and spent their time in joy and fun.
In the evening, when all the warriors were resting under the spreading leaves of the mulberry tree, Fateh Khan and Karam Khan went to the river and saw three women drawing water into jugs.
Karam Khan was a master of all sorts of jokes. So he says to Fateh Khan:
- My great brother, a funny joke is a rest for the heart. Let's break the jugs and see how the water pours out of them!
Fateh Khan laughed and answered Karam Khan:
-Have it your way.
They collected stones and broke all the jugs. The women got wet to the skin, cried and went to complain to Aslam Khan.
- O great Aslam Khan! Your children broke our jugs and we got wet to the skin! Help our grief!
Aslam Khan frowned and answered the women:
“I’ll give you some advice: sew some skins for yourself so that they can’t be broken.”
The women listened to the wise king and made themselves skins. The next day they went to the river, filled their waterskins with water and went home, rejoicing that everything had turned out so well.
But that was not the case! Karam Khan saw them and said:
- Fateh Khan, let's pierce the waterskins with arrows! Let's see how water flows from them!
Fateh Khan laughed and agreed. The jokers pierced the waterskins with arrows, and again all the water flowed out. The women ran to Aslam Khan crying:
- O great Aslam Khan! Your children pierced our waterskins with arrows! What should we do? Help!
Aslam Khan thought again. He thought for a long time and finally called his servants to him and told them this:
“When Fateh Khan returns from hunting, do not show him royal honors!” Let him feel that I know about his affairs and am angry with him. And you, nanny,” he turned to Fateh Khan’s old maid, “are not the first to wash his hands today.”
Having said this, Aslam Khan calmed down and decided that his beloved son would understand this warning.
Fateh Khan returned from hunting late in the evening. He came joyful, hot from fast riding on a horse. But his nanny lowered her eyes, did not give him water, but washed Purdil Khan’s hands.
Fateh Khan became sad. And Karam Khan says to him:
“It was your father who was angry with you, my beloved brother.”
Fateh Khan became even more saddened and asked his foster brother:
- What should I do now?
– Gather a squad and let’s go seek our fortune in foreign lands! Otherwise it will be bad: if you don’t leave yourself, your father will order you to leave.
- I don’t believe you! – Fateh Khan exclaimed angrily and went to his father’s chambers. Fateh Khan entered the vast hall, stood on one knee and said:
- O shadow over my head, my beloved father! How is your health, does your heart hurt?
Aslam Khan was happy in his heart at the arrival of his son, but did not show it. He did not respond to Fateh Khan’s greeting and continued to look thoughtfully straight ahead.
Fateh Khan rose from his knees and approached the throne. He thought that his father had not heard his greeting. But when Fateh Khan wanted to sit next to his father, Aslam Khan did not even move to give his son a seat. Deep down, he was happy to see Fateh Khan next to him, but he hid it to himself.
And then Fateh Khan turned and walked away from his father’s chambers with tears in his eyes. He walked and thought: “Apparently, Karam Khan was right!” That same evening he ordered the most skilled saddlers to make sixty saddles. And he ordered his servants to bring sixty of the best horses from the stable. Then Fateh Khan called a messenger to him and quietly said to him:
“Go to the palace of my beloved Bibi Rabiyi and tell her that I am going on a campaign tonight.” Ask her if she wants to go with me or not?
“I listen and obey,” answered the messenger, jumped on his horse and immediately disappeared from sight.
He quickly rushed to the palace of Bibi Rabiyi and saw that a beautiful girl was standing on the tower, admiring the sunset.
The messenger stopped the lathered horse and exclaimed:
– Oh beautiful Bibi Rabiyah! Fateh Khan asked me to tell him that he was going on a campaign tonight. Will you go with him or not?
The heart beat strongly in the chest of the beautiful Bibi Rabiyya, but she did not say anything to the messenger.
Without waiting for an answer, the messenger turned his horse and rushed back. He galloped into the palace of Fateh Khan, fell to the ground in front of him and said:
- O lord! Bibi Rabiyah did not answer me.
“Okay, go...” Fateh Khan said thoughtfully and sighed heavily.
And at midnight the timpani struck loudly. Frightened people woke up, ran out into the street, asking each other:
-What happened? Why anxiety?
- Fateh Khan and his retinue are going on a campaign! - Those who knew answered them. Whole crowds of people gathered around the warriors sitting on saddled horses.
Seeing the squad ready for the campaign, Aslam Khan said quietly:
Where does the disobedient son go? He did not spare his father’s gray hairs, He will leave both the throne and his native land, And you, Aslam, will remain alone!
Aslam Khan came out to Fateh Khan and addressed him with kind words:
– Don’t leave your old father, son! When I die, who will be king here? Listen to me, my beloved son!
But Fateh Khan replied:
I came to you in the throne room, I fell at your feet with a prayer, I wanted to ask for mercy, But you didn’t let me speak.
You turned away from me, driving me away with your contempt, And now I’m leaving - You can’t stop the horse from running! A long journey is calling me, The squad is assembled for a campaign, Fateh Khan will return with glory, Or he will fall in a glorious battle.
Aslam Khan turned pale, tears flashed in his old eyes, and he quietly, but so that the soldiers standing nearby could hear, answered:
I am also a king, and everything is subject to me, And I could become like a wall, Over which you will not jump, Neither on your own nor on a hot horse. But I don’t want to contradict you, I submit to my sad fate, And I only ask: forgive me! Stay! For the last time, heed my prayer!
Fateh Khan's heart trembled at these words of his father, but he overpowered himself: you cannot show your weakness in front of the soldiers! He jumped onto the mighty horse, whipped him and rushed away. And the vigilantes rushed after him.
Meanwhile, Fateh Khan's mother, disheveled and bareheaded, ran to the gates of Kalabis. She stood there and decided not to let her only son in. “I’ll grab him,” I thought, “by the stirrup!” After all, he won’t pass by his own mother.”
But Fateh Khan drove not through the big gate, but through the small one. The mother waited a long time for her beloved son, but she never came. Having learned that Fateh Khan had left through another gate of the palace, the woman cried bitterly.
Meanwhile, the warriors unsaddled their horses and settled down outside the city gates to rest in the tall grass. As soon as Fateh Khan greeted Pur-dil-Khan, the elders from the castle of Kalabis arrived and began to again ask Fateh Khan not to leave his home.
Fateh Khan became angry and answered them:
- Don't tell me anything else! As I decided, so it will be!
Then the elders advised him:
- Well, if you really want to leave, go to Mecca!
“No,” Fateh Khan answered them, “I will go to India!” And you return to Calabis.
The elders returned to the Kalabis palace and told Aslam Khan about everything. The old king was completely saddened, but there was nothing to do. Only Fateh Khan’s mother did not calm down. She ran to the palace of Bibi Rabiyi, where Fateh Khan was supposed to visit.
And Fateh Khan, not knowing it, stood at that time in front of Bibi Rabiyya and asked her:
Answer me, my love, without hiding the bitter truth. Don’t you want to go with me on a long journey, to foreign lands?
The beautiful girl answered him affectionately:
I will answer your question, without hiding the pure truth, You are going on a campaign, Fateh Khan, Rabiyya will follow you.
Fateh Khan's heart beat joyfully. He ordered his squad to mount their horses, and placed Bibi Rabiyya behind him.
Just as the warriors were about to leave the castle gates, Fateh Khan’s mother ran in. She grabbed him by the stirrup, crying, begging her son not to leave.
And Fateh Khan’s heart sank so much that he stopped his horse and thought.
Seeing this, Karam Khan drove up to his foster brother and told him this:
My beloved is in the saddle with you, Glory awaits you, a hot battle awaits you, Hurry! After all, aren’t you embarrassed by a woman’s salty tears?
We have stayed too long here, And the horses are waiting, and the people are waiting, Give the order - and our sabers will bring you victory!
Having said this, Karam Khan drove off to the side, and Fateh Khan perked up and shouted in a loud voice!
Wow, Allah is with us! Squad forward! We are starting a campaign for glory! And let the dust swirl under the hooves, Let the sabers sparkle and the wind sing!
The brave warriors galloped merrily to the castle gates. Only Purdil Khan sat sadly in the saddle, remembering how his mother begged him to stay.
Noticing the sadness on his face, Karam Khan ran up to him and said:
– Pale-faced is for women, dark-skinned is for battle! If you want, go back, no one is keeping you here!
Purdil Khan did not answer, he only flashed his eyes and spurred his horse even stronger.
The warriors left the castle, and then night fell, and Fateh Khan decided to spend the night in the beautiful garden that was laid out near the palace of Bibi Rabiyi.
As soon as the sun appeared from behind the mountains, beautiful girls, one more beautiful than the other, began to gather in the garden to say goodbye to their beloved Bibi Rabiyya.
The girls frolicked in the garden, sang and danced with their mistress.
Fateh Khan said to Karam Khan:
- Well, go to the garden wall, climb on it unnoticed and see what they are doing there.
Karam Khan was delighted, ran to the wall, climbed onto it and began to look at the beauties. He almost lost his mind with delight; he just clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. Then he sees the girls getting ready to leave the garden.
Like a cat, Karam Khan jumped off the wall and rushed towards Fateh Khan.
- O almighty Fateh Khan! How many gentle nightingales are about to fly away! What are we going to do? – Karam Khan said, slyly narrowing his right eye.
Fateh Khan smiled at him and, turning to the soldiers, said:
- O warriors, my brothers and friends! Let everyone take the girl he likes! Place them on the saddle with you and off you go!
That's what the soldiers did. And an hour later, only a cloud of dust could be seen far in the mountains - it was the squad of the brave Fateh Khan racing on fast horses.
Meanwhile, sixty men came to Aslam Khan’s palace, crying and pleading.
- O light of our eyes, almighty Aslam Khan. Your son stole our daughters and took them with him to distant lands. What should we do now? Help us, O almighty king!
- How can I help you? My son didn't listen. “He even left me here alone,” Aslam Khan answered and sighed heavily. “I will give you all the bride price for your daughters and sisters, and go in peace.”
And Aslam Khan fell silent again, thinking about his beloved son.
Meanwhile, Fateh Khan ordered the soldiers to dismount. Evening has come - it's time to relax. Fateh Khan called Karam Khan to him and said to him:
- Stick a twig in this place. Whichever direction the branch bends during the night, that’s where we’ll go.
Karam Khan replied:
– I listen and obey!
He bowed to Fateh Khan and went to carry out the order. He did everything as Fateh Khan ordered him and went to bed.
The next morning Karam Khan got up before everyone else and ran to see where the branch was leaning. He came running and saw that the branch had bent to the ground and was pointing directly to Mecca.
Without hesitation, Karam Khan took it and turned the branch towards India. Fateh Khan came to see where the branch was heading and saw that it pointed the way straight to India.
“So be it!” - Fateh Khan decided, said a prayer and ordered to set off.
The horsemen rode for a long time. The sun had already begun to set when they reached a small village. They unsaddled the horses, and Fateh Khan ordered them to be let into the wheat field - let them feed, the road is not easy!
The villagers saw horses in their fields, grabbed everyone by the bridle and brought them to Fateh Khan with a complaint.
- Don't be angry with us! - Fateh Khan answered them. “We sent horses into your fields not with evil, but with good.” We wanted to know whether you are friends with each other or not. Hostility and disagreement are bad helpers. But I see you are friendly. So stay in peace!
Fateh Khan told them this and ordered them to saddle their horses. The soldiers did not have time to rest. They drove on, and the night was approaching, soon it would be completely dark.
And suddenly the warriors saw another vast field and in the distance the small houses of the village. They unsaddled the horses again and let them graze.
And the inhabitants of this village quarreled among themselves and offended each other in everything. And now they began to drive Fateh Khan’s horses from neighbor to neighbor. There is no need to speak to everyone at once.
Fateh Khan smiled when he saw this and said:
“People live here poorly, they don’t live together.” This is where we will remain to live until we gain strength.
And Fateh Khan decided to stay in a large village, on a mountain surrounded by high walls.
Fateh Khan sees: the gates of the village are locked. How can this be?
“Allow me, oh my almighty brother, to see what’s the matter,” Karam Khan asked. “Then we’ll decide what to do.”
Fateh Khan agreed, and Karam Khan quickly jumped on his horse and galloped towards the village. He drove up to the locked gates, bound with iron, and shouted at the top of his voice:
- Hey you, giaurs! Open the gate! So I tell you, servant and brother of the great Fateh Khan!
Hearing the menacing voice of Karam Khan, the residents were more frightened than ever.
And Karam Khan stands at the gate and threatens them with all troubles if they do not carry out his orders. He shouts at the infidels, but his heart is heavy. “What if they don’t open the gates? How can I come to my beloved brother? I can’t return with nothing!” Fateh Khan waited for his brother for a long time and finally sent Purdil Khan for him.
Great was the surprise of Purdil Khan when he saw Karam Khan standing at the gate. And Purdil Khan and Karam Khan together began to shout at the infidels. They were even more frightened, propped the gates with logs and hid, waiting for what would happen next.
Fateh Khan waited a long time for his friends. Finally, the brave Fateh Khan got angry and rode with his squad to the gates of the rebellious village.
- Hey, you! For the last time I tell you in a good way - open the gates, - shouted the mighty Fateh Khan, - otherwise we will open it by force and it will not be good for you then!
Seeing Fateh Khan, the iniquities began to shake:
“This man has a lion’s mustache and a tiger’s voice.” No other than the great king!
And the infidels decided to open the gates. Fateh Khan's warriors entered the village and did not harm anyone. They unsaddled the horses and lay down to rest.
By that time, the sun had long hidden behind the sharp peaks, night had descended from the mountains, and the tired warriors fell asleep.
The next morning, Fateh Khan called Karam Khan and talked with him for a long time. And then he gathered the soldiers and told them this:
- Let's, my brothers, settle in this village. Let's gain strength, take a look around and then decide what we will do next.
- What about them? - asked one of the warriors, nodding at the residents who were crowding at a distance, anxiously talking among themselves.
- The country is great. Let them go with God! We will not offend them, we will give them a ransom for their goods. They will build houses for themselves and live. There is enough space for all people on this earth.
So they decided. And in the evening all the infidels left the fortified village, wailing and complaining about their fate.
And the infidels decided to go with a complaint to King Shamsuddin. They came to his palace and said this:
- O great king, lord of fields and mountains! A terrible warrior and his retinue came to our village. He has a mustache like a lion, a voice like a tiger. And he ordered us to leave the village, saying that the world is great and there is enough room on earth for everyone.
King Shamsuddin thought. But, after thinking, he decided that it was not worth fighting with such a strong and brave warrior. And Shamsuddin said to the offended residents:
- Don't be sad, people. I will give you another land. Live there happily and don’t think about the old things. If this warrior is a good person, invite him to visit, make friends with him, and he will be your protection from robbers.
The infidels agreed with the wise words of the king and left in peace. They built a new village, next to the one in which Fateh Khan and his retinue lived happily. And one day the infidels invited Fateh Khan to visit them.
And the next day Fateh Khan invited them to his place. And they began to live as good neighbors.
Once, returning from a hunt, Karam Khan got into a conversation with the infidels about how much tax they paid. The infidels sighed bitterly and clicked their tongues:
- Don’t ask, O bravest of the brave! We pay two thousand rupees per house.
At first Karam Khan was surprised, and then he became angry and said this:
- When the soldiers come to you to collect taxes, send for me. I'll help you.
The cheerful and brave Karam Khan said so and rode off on his horse. And the giaurs looked after him enthusiastically for a long time, rejoicing that they had found such a strong friend and patron. And the next day they came to Fateh Khan and said to him:
- O great and bravest of the brave Fateh Khan. Our hope is in you! For many years now we have been at odds with a village that is located not far from us. Make peace between us and them, and then we will serve you faithfully, with sword and shield.
Fateh Khan agreed to help his neighbors. He shouted a cry, gathered his friends, and they all galloped together to that village.
Seeing the mighty and brave horsemen, the residents showed them honor, took the horses by the bridle and hurried to prepare a delicious meal. Then Fateh turned. . Khan to the oldest of the graybeards and said to him like this:
- O elder, whose wisdom is imprinted in noble gray hairs. Do you want to listen to me, Fateh Khan?
“I will be glad to hear what you tell us,” the old man answered and sat down more comfortably on the pillows.
“Your blood brothers live not far from here.” The elder nodded his head in agreement.
“We want you to stop fighting and live in friendship.” Do you agree or not?
The old man thought for a long time, and then answered:
- If you command, it will be so. Fateh Khan was delighted, jumped on his horse and rode back to his castle with his squad.
And Karam Khan rode behind and thought: “Aren’t these infidels deceiving us? They agreed to fulfill Fateh Khan’s request too quickly!” Karam Khan thought so, imperceptibly fell behind the rest of the horsemen and rushed back.
The gyaurs did not expect that one of the warriors of the great Fateh Khan would return. They received Karam Khan, sat him down, and he addressed them with the following words:
“We had a good talk, like real friends.” But we didn’t smoke hookah.
They immediately brought him a hookah. Then Karam Khan took it and mixed poison with the tobacco.
Then he jumped on his horse and, catching up with Fateh Khan, said:
“I made such an agreement with them that they will never be able to break it.
Fateh Khan became angry and said to Karam Khan:
- Don't you dare do that again. Know that my love for you may come to an end.
“My almighty brother,” Karam Khan answered, smiling. - What if the infidels deceived us? After all, it would be a shame for all of us!
Fateh Khan shook his head, did not answer Karam Khan, but became thoughtful and sad.
Before the horsemen had time to return to the palace, the servants handed Fateh Khan a letter from Shamsuddin. The great king wrote to him like this:
“I’m not touching you, O Fateh Khan, so why are you touching me? Don’t stop me from collecting taxes in my domain!” Fateh Khan didn’t answer Shamsuddin. And the next day, as soon as the sun came out from behind the mountains, the infidels came running to Karam Khan and asked for protection from the tax collectors.
Grabbing a saber, Karam Khan rushed with the infidels into the village, killed two soldiers, and cut off the tongue of the third and released him in all four directions.
A soldier came running to Shamsuddin’s palace, babbling something, but couldn’t say anything.
The king was surprised and sent three more soldiers to the village.
And again Karam Khan attacked them, killed two, and the third ran away in great fear. He returned to the palace, threw himself at the feet of the king and told him about the devil, who is not afraid of anything and killed all the tax collectors.
The king thought for a long time. And he decided to wait to see what would happen next.
But Karam Khan became completely proud and did not repent at all when Fateh Khan sternly told him:
- Look, Karam Khan, there is no trouble, so you will bring it yourself! Don't you dare do that again!
Karam Khan did not heed the words of his foster brother. A few days later, while hunting in the mountains, he saw a caravan loaded with gold and silver.
-Whose jewels are these? – Karam Khan asked the drivers.
They replied that the jewelry belonged to Sham-suddin.
Then, without saying a word, Karam Khan attacked the guards, dispersed them all, and led the caravan to the village and hid the jewelry there.
But you can’t hide a camel under a bridge! Shamsuddin found out about this and became furious. That same night he gathered an army and set out on a campaign against the daring Fateh Khan.
And then Bibi Rabiyya got up early in the morning and saw: the tents of a huge army were pitched in front of the walls.
Bibi Rabiyya woke up Fateh Khan and soon all the warriors stood in front of Fateh Khan, ready for mortal combat.
The warriors came out of the gate and the battle began.
For four days and four nights the brave warriors fought with the countless army of Shamsuddin. For four days and four nights the ringing of sabers did not stop. Like birds of prey, sowing death, arrows whistled in the air. And the sun rose and set, painted the color of blood.
Fateh Khan, straightening his mustache, rushed among his enemies, terrifying them. His mustache fluttered in the wind, and the burning gaze of his black eyes was terrifying.
But four days passed, and Shamsuddin could not stand it. He sent a messenger to Fateh Khan and suggested that he rest for four days.
Fateh Khan agreed, and the roar of battle subsided.
Joyful warriors returned to their loved ones, carrying victory at the points of their sabers.
Only Fateh Khan was sad. He knew how many troops King Shamsuddin had...
But then four days passed, and the warriors fought again in a terrible battle.
And then disaster struck: Shamsuddin’s warriors attacked Purdil Khan from all sides and cut off his hand. Purdil Khan turned pale, but did not drop the sword, but only took it in his left hand and, like a brave lion, fought with the enemy until it got dark.
Fateh Khan's warriors returned to the village late at night. Bibi Rabiyah cried bitterly when she saw her brother without an arm.
But Purdil Khan proudly answered his sister:
“It’s not proper for an Afghan woman to cry over her wound!” You should be proud of this, sister!
And Bibi Rabiyah wiped away her tears. She bandaged her brother's wound and at dawn led the soldiers into battle again. Bibi Rabiyya stood on the wall for a long time, looking after them.
And the warriors again came together in a hot battle and fought tirelessly until their horses could stand on their feet. And when evening came, Purdil Khan fell lifeless, with a face as tender as that of a girl, and a heart as brave as that of a lion.
Karam Khan placed his body on his saddle, and the warriors returned from the battlefield.
Bibi Rabiyya wept bitterly over her brother's body, admiring his unearthly beauty. And when the next morning the warriors went into battle again, Bibi Rabiyya embalmed her brother’s body and laid him on a palang, strewing flowers on his chest and face.
Meanwhile, approaching the battlefield, Fateh Khan took off the golden ring from his mustache and spread it in the wind. Everyone knew what fear Fateh Khan's mustache brought to his enemies, and therefore he dissolved them only in battle.
The soldiers arrived at the battlefield, but Shamsuddin did not. Instead, the elders sit on the ground. When they saw Fateh Khan, they all stood up from the ground, bowed low and said:
- O bravest of the brave Fateh Khan! King Shamsuddin sent us to you and ordered us to say that he is ready to fulfill any of your requests. He invites you to his palace in peace!
Fateh Khan's warriors rejoiced. They decided that they had already won.
“Okay,” answered Fateh Khan. - Go in peace! Tomorrow I will come to the king.
The ambassadors left. That’s when Fateh Khan began to think: does Shamsuddin want peace with all his heart?
And Karam Khan, seeing his brother’s thoughts, said to him:
- O my beloved brother, do not believe the Mughals! Shamsuddin does not offer you peace from the bottom of his heart. Don't go to him!
– Do you want me to be considered a coward? – Fateh Khan asked with contempt.
- Okay, my beloved brother! Then we’ll do this: you and half the soldiers go to the king, and I and the rest will follow. If there is danger, I will give my life, and I will save you!
Fateh Khan smiled affectionately, looking at his strong and brave brother, hugged him by the shoulders and said:
- Okay, Karam Khan. Let it be as you advise. Just remember – don’t attack first.
“I will remember,” Karam Khan answered firmly. And early the next morning, dressed in rich attire, Fateh Khan went to see King Sham-suddin.
The sun was shining kindly on the tired warriors, there was not a single cloud in the high sky, everything around was breathing peace, and Fateh Khan joyfully looked around, thinking that nothing bad could happen on such a good day.
Only sometimes a cloud of sadness came over his face: among his glorious warriors he did not meet the cheerful eyes of Purdil Khan.
But finally, they arrived at Shamsuddin’s palace, dismounted and went to the king’s throne.
Shamsuddin smiled at them affectionately, and his eyes were completely hidden in wrinkles.
- Hello, O Fateh Khan, whose courage is worthy of admiration! If you come to me in peace, throw down your weapons and sit next to me. Let's talk like brothers!
Fateh Khan ordered his soldiers to drop their weapons and approached the throne of Shamsuddin. And then the wrinkles on the king’s face parted, his eyes became angry, and he exclaimed:
- Hey, servants! Tie the hands of the mangy dog Fateh Khan, the enemy of all kings!
At that same moment, the guards rushed at Fateh Khan and tied him and all the soldiers.
Then Fateh Khan straightened his shoulders and shouted at the top of his voice, so loudly that the guards around him fell:
- O Karam Khan, my brother! Help!
And Karam Khan heard the voice of his beloved brother and rushed along with the soldiers towards the guards. He made his way through the thick of enemies to Fateh Khan and freed him. And then he shouted fiercely and fearfully at Shamsuddin’s soldiers:
- Hey you, servants of Satan! Now I will build a tower out of your heads!
With these words, he rushed at the enemies, and soon mountains of corpses lay around him.
Only late at night did the squad return home. Fateh Khan gathered his friends and said:
- Brothers! We walked in peace. We were deceived. We will not forgive this. Now we will fight to the end: either we win, or we all die!
And the next day a battle ensued that cannot be described. Fateh Khan's mustache fluttered menacingly, and mountains of corpses grew around him. The furious Karam Khan, like a terrible ghost, rushed on his horse among the warriors of Shamsuddin, spreading death and horror everywhere.
Fateh Khan fought with his squad for a long time. Now all his warriors had died and only he and Karam Khan remained alive. And then night came, interrupting the battle.
The sad brothers returned home, mourning their friends. But their will did not break, and the next morning they went into battle again. They fought like lions. But there were countless enemies, but only two brave men.
And so Karam Khan’s enemies surrounded him and seriously wounded him. The hero gathered his last strength and shouted:
- Let me die, my brother will avenge me! Night fell again, and Fateh Khan came from the field alone.
He laid the dead Karam Khan on the palang, and he fell down next to him and fell asleep. And he slept so soundly that it seemed he would never wake up.
The sun rose, but Fateh Khan was still sleeping. Bibi Rabiyya stood over her husband, and it was bitter for her to see his tired face. She looked at him for a long time, and then woke him up and said:
“Duty calls you to battle, oh my beloved husband!” I will go with you and may we die together. We will die fighting our enemies.
Fateh Khan thought. There was no fear in his soul, but it was only sad and painful for him to go to death alone.
Looking at her husband, Bibi Rabiyah began to cry and quietly asked:
“You fought bravely, O beloved.” Maybe now don't go this time?
Fateh Khan did not answer her, put on his armor, said goodbye to his wife, mounted his horse and went to the last battle.
Fateh Khan fought with the enemies for two days and two nights. It was hard for him - alone among enemies, without a brother, without friends.
And then Fateh Khan shouted loudly:
O Khan Aslam, dear father, I went out to the last battle, I will die, but I will not give up honor. Father, do you hear my voice?
The swords clash, ringing, the armor on me is cut, - Father, do you hear the farewell cry? For everything, for everything, forgive me!
But Aslam Khan was far away, and he did not hear his son’s voice.
And Bibi Rabiyya stood at the castle gates for two days and two nights and kept waiting for her beloved to appear in the distance. And, turning her prayers to the Almighty, she made a vow:
- If the horse brings my beloved, I will put a garland of blue carnations around his neck!
Great was her joy when, at the end of the second day, she saw Fateh Khan on his good horse.
With a cry of joy, Bibi Rabiyah rushed to her husband and placed a garland of carnations around his horse’s neck. Joyful and happy, she gave her husband food and laid him on the palang.
And the next morning Fateh Khan went into battle again. There are even more enemies than yesterday, and the hero has less strength. He began to weaken.
By evening, Fateh Khan's enemies inflicted many serious wounds. But he still fought bravely, without even showing how much he was suffering.
And night fell again, and he rode home, barely able to stay in the saddle. But as before, his gaze pierced the darkness, and his hands tightly gripped his sword.
Bibi Rabiyya rushed towards her husband. Fateh Khan smiled, got off his horse, took a few steps and fell, bleeding...
A few days later, Shamsuddin came to the palace of Fateh Khan and saw only widows and orphans. All the warriors embalmed by Bibi Rabiyya lay as if alive on their palangs with weapons in their hands.
Shamsuddin walked thoughtfully, looking at the beautiful faces of the dead warriors. And when he saw Fateh Khan, tears welled up in his eyes.
And Shamsuddin quietly whispered:
You, like a lion, died from severe wounds,
Mighty warrior, glorious Fateh Khan.
Oh, if only you lived, the whole region is blooming
I would have given it to you as a reward.
But you are as formidable in death as alive,
And I’m scared to stand in front of you!
Take the lands drenched in blood
Your friends, and sleep peacefully, hero.
Shamsuddin shuddered, turned and walked out of the palace.
At the gate he said goodbye to Bibi Rabiyah and said to her:
– This land is now yours!
Then he mounted his horse and rode off with his army.
And Bibi Rabiyah said to the people who surrounded her:
“This land was given to us by the sabers of Fateh Khan and his glorious friends, may Allah forgive them...
And Bibi Rabiyah became queen over all those living on the land of Aminkot. Time passed, children grew up, got married and gave birth to children, grandchildren of the glorious Fateh Khan and his warriors.
And they live like this to this day...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru